Breech-loading fire-arm



(No Model.)

D. KIRKWOOD.

BREEGH LOADING FIRE ARM.

No. 289,273. Patented Nov. 27, 1883.

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DAVID KIRIUVOOD, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SPLCIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 289,273, dated November 27, 1883.

A pplication filed May 29,1882.

1"!) all whom it may cancer/2,:

Be it known that I, DAVID liininvoon, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suii'olk and State of Mas sachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in BreeclrLoading FircArms, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accomianvin drawin s makin art of thiss ieeifi- 1 .1 C D 7 D cation, 111 which- Figure l. is a longitudinal vertical section through a portion of a brcech-loadin g shotgun having my improvements applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a perspective view. of a portion of the barrels of a shotgun inverted, illustrating the application of my invention thereto. Fig. 3 is a vertical section (enlarged) through the front lug on the under side of the barrels, illustrating my improvements.

In breakdown breeclrloading guns, as usually constructed, a portion of the fore part fits snugly between the front lug on the under side of the barrels and the joint-lug, the front lug serving, in connection with the j oint-lug, to hold the barrels in place upon the breech-loading action. IVith this construction, when the joint becomes worn by the frequent tilting of the barrels and jarring incident thereto, or the rear end of the front lug becomes worn or indented by the thrust of the contiguous portion of the fore part against it, caused by the jar produced by the sudden stoppage of the barrels when dropped down, the fore part becomes loose and has a play or movement in the direction of the length of the barrels be tween these two lugs, which tends to increase the wear of the parts, and by increasing the jar or shock, produced in dropping the barrels, frequently causes the front lug to be separated or broken off from the barrels, and the gun to be otherwise strained or injured.

My invention has for its object to obviate these diiiiculties and to enable me to readily take up or compensate for this wear and keep the fore part constantly tight, so that it will have no play in the direction of the length of the barrels between the lugs; and my invention consists in the combination, with the front lug and the adjacent portion of the fore part, of anadjustable piece or portion adapted to (No model.)

to prevent play or loose motion of the fore partbetween the front lug and the joint-lug, and press the body of the action with the joint-pin constantly up against the joint-lug, thus com;

pensat-ing for wear, and keeping the partstightly in place and preventing any play or loose motion at the joint, whereby the jar and strain upon the different parts of the breech mechanism is reduced to a minimum.

In the said drawings, A represents the breech-piece of a shotgun, to which the barrels B are pivoted in a wellknown manner, to tilt downward at the muzzle and upward at the breech.

b represents the joint-lug projecting from the under side of the barrels, c the joint-pin, and D the fore part, the portion 0 of which fits snugly between the j oint-lug b and the front lug, G, also projecting from the under side of the barrels. The lug G is composed of a main or stationary portion, f, permanently fixed to the under side of the barrels B, and a movable portion, 1 which is pivoted or hinged to the portion f at 10, and is adapted to be forced or swung out by means of a screw, h, working within the portion f, and adapted to be turned from the front end thereof, and thus by turning the screw h the movable or adjustable portion of the front lug, G, can be caused to bear at all times firmly against the adjacent end of the portion a of the fore part, and thus press the body of the action with the joint-pin c tightly against the jointlug 1), thereby effectually preventing any play or looseness at the joint, as the portion e of the fore part is confined-so tightly between the lugs G and b that it can have no play or movement in the direction of its length, any wear that may occur at the joint or on the face of the portion 9 of the lug G being readily taken up and compensated for by turning the screw 71 sufficiently to keep the adjustable port-ion g of the lug at all times firmly against the adjacent end of the portion (2 of the fore part.

Instead of the movable portion 1 of the front lug being hinged or pivoted, as above dcscribed, it maybe constructed to slide in or on a guide or guides in-a direction parallel with be forced out from the one against the other,

the axis of the barrels. I prefer, however, to pivot it, as that is the simplest and least expensive method, and most easily admits of the withdrawal of the fore part in case the face of the portion g should become indented or a recess worn therein by the abrasion or action of the adjacent portion of the fore part thereon.

If desired, the adjusting-screw itself may be made to pass entirely through the lug G and bear directly against the adjacent portion of the fore part without the interposition of any block or piece between the screw and the fore part, in which case the adj Listing-screw itself will constitute the movable portion of the front lug, and would be the full mechanical equivalent thereof; and instead of operating the movable portion 9 of the lug by means of a screw, it may be adjusted by means of a cam, wedge, or other equivalent mechanical device.

It is evident that instead of providing the front lug, G, with an adjustable piece or portion, 9, as shown, the lug may be made in one solid piece, and the adjacent end of the portion 0 of the fore part provided with an adjustable piece or portion adapted to be forced out against the adjacent end of the lug, the same result being secured in either case by means of the same or equivalent mechanism.

By means of the above-described improvement the barrels can be tightened to produce any desired amount of friction at the joint,

and the jar caused by their sudden stoppage, when tilted down, thus reduced to a minimum, while the trouble and annoyance heretofore experienced by reason of the barrels becoming loose at the joint is avoided, as well as the necessity of sending the gun to the gunsmith to have the portion of the fore part which fits between the front lug and joint-lug elongated to cause it to fit properly and immovably in place.

secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a breakdown breech-loading gun, the combination, with the front lug, G, of the movable portion 9, pivoted or hinged to its rear end, and means for adjusting the said movable portion to cause it to bear against the adjacent portion of the fore part, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In a breakdown breech-loading gun, the combination, with the front lug, G, of the movable'portion g, pivoted or hinged thereto, and the adjusting-screw 71, all operating substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

WVitness my hand this 26th day of May, A. D. 1882.

DAVID KIRKWVOOD.

In presence of P. E. TESOHEMAOHER, WV. J. CAMBRIDGE.

What I claim as m invention and desire to y 7 g p 

